**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the Indian government's initiatives to boost industrial development, agriculture, and tourism in Assam and the wider North Eastern Region. It details various schemes and programs implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and other ministries to address skill development and employment generation, with a focus on digital technology, tourism, agriculture, and indigenous sectors. The information was provided in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 554 on July 23, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Industrial Development Schemes:**
* **North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007:** Implemented from April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2017, disbursing Rs. 3824.68 Crore as subsidy.
* **North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017:** In effect from April 1, 2017, for five years, offering incentives like capital investment, interest, insurance, income tax, GST reimbursement, employment incentives, and transport incentives with an overall cap of Rs.200 Cr per unit.
* **Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI), 2024:** Effective from March 9, 2024, for 10 years with an outlay of Rs. 10,037 crores.
* **Agricultural Development Schemes:**
* Various central sector schemes are in place, including Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKISAN) and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
* Centrally sponsored schemes include the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) and Krishonnati Yojana.
* Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and related sub-missions are also being implemented.
* **Tourism Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism is focused on training and professional education to meet the needs of the tourism and hospitality industry.
* **Skill Development:**
* The Skill India Mission (SIM) delivers training through various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
* A pilot initiative for apprenticeship promotion in the North Eastern Region (NER) provides additional financial support to apprentices.
* Assam Skill Development Mission has provided training in agriculture, tourism, and digital technology since 2017.
* **Employment Generation:**
* The Tea Tourism Infrastructure Development Scheme in Assam provides subsidies to tea gardens for creating tourism infrastructure and generates employment through skill training.
* The Ministry of Textiles administers programs like the National Handloom Development Programme and SAMARTH Scheme for handloom workers.
* **MDoNER Projects:**
* The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has sanctioned projects to boost agriculture (Rs. 164.14 Cr), industries (Rs. 113.5 Cr), and tourism (Rs. 659.44 Cr) in Assam.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Industrial Units:**
* *Impact:* Access to financial incentives and support for industrial development and expansion.
* *Action Required:* Review eligibility criteria and apply for relevant schemes like NEIDS, 2017 and UNNATI, 2024.
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Access to financial assistance, insurance schemes, and support for agricultural infrastructure and practices.
* *Action Required:* Register for schemes like PMKISAN and utilize resources provided through RKVY.
* **Youth in Assam and NER:**
* *Impact:* Opportunities for skill development and employment in sectors like digital technology, tourism, and agriculture.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs under SIM and Assam Skill Development Mission.
* **Handloom Workers:**
* *Impact:* Skill upgradation training and welfare support through the Ministry of Textiles' programs.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs offered through Weaver Service Centres under the SAMARTH Scheme.
* **Tourism and Hospitality Industry:**
* *Impact:* Availability of trained manpower and infrastructure development support.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism and participate in training initiatives.
* **Tea Gardens in Assam:**
* *Impact:* Financial assistance for developing tourism infrastructure and generating employment.
* *Action Required:* Apply for subsidies under the Tea Tourism Infrastructure Development Scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Assam: A state in the North Eastern Region of India, focus of economic development and employment generation mentioned in the policy.
North Eastern Region: A region in India comprising of multiple states including Assam, focus of development initiatives.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region: A government ministry responsible for the development of the North Eastern Region of India.
Skill India Mission: A Government of India initiative focused on skill development and entrepreneurship.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A flagship scheme under the Skill India Mission for skill development.
North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy NEIIPP, 2007: A policy to boost industrialization in the North Eastern Region of India.
North East Industrial Development Scheme NEIDS, 2017: A scheme to promote industrialization in the North Eastern States and boost employment and income generation.
Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme UNNATI, 2024: A scheme for industrial development in the North Eastern Region.
Government of India
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 554
To be answered on
Wednesday, July 23, 2025/Sravana 1, 1947 (Saka)
QUESTION
Economic Development and Employment Generation in Assam
554. Md. Rakibul Hussain:
Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased
to state:
(a) the details of programmes implemented to boost industrial development,
agriculture and tourism in Assam and the wider northern region of the country;
(b) the manner in which the Government addressing the skill development needs of
the youth in the region, particularly in sectors such as digital technology, tourism and
agriculture; and
(c) whether there is any targeted support for creating employment opportunities in
Assam’s tea industry, handloom and other indigenous sectors to foster sustainable local
economies and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
[Dr. Sukanta Majumdar]
(a) to (c) The list of schemes being implemented by the Government of India to boost
Industrial development in Assam is at Annexure– I. The list of schemes being
implemented to boost the Agricultural Development in Assam is at Annexure- II.
Further, under the Schemes of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
(MDoNER), various projects have been sanctioned to boost industrial development,
agriculture and tourism in Assam, the details of which are at Annexure-III. The Ministry
of Tourism endeavors to put in place a system of training and professional education,
with necessary infrastructure support, capable of generating manpower sufficient to
meet the needs of tourism and hospitality industry.Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training
through an extensive network of skill development centres / institutes etc. under various
schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan ShikshanSansthan
(JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training
Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the
society across the country including Assam and other North-Eastern States. The SIM
aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready and equipped with industry relevant
skills. The Government is actively addressing the skill development needs of youth in
Assam and the wider North Eastern Region through focused interventions under MSDE
flagship schemes.These initiatives prioritize demand-driven skilling in key sectors
including digital technology, tourism, agriculture, and handicrafts, which are integral to
the region’s economic potential. A pilot initiative for special intervention for promotion of
apprenticeship in North-Eastern Region (NER) was launched by Hon’ble Minister,
MSDE in Mizoram on 20th May 2025. Under this pilot initiative, over and above the
Government share of stipend provided under NAPS-2, an additional financial support of
₹1,500 per apprentice per month to eligible apprentices of NER is provided.Under
Assam Skill Development Mission, the State Government of Assam has imparted short
term training to 14,139 youth in agriculture sector, 10,496 youth in Tourism Sector, and
47,553 youth in digital technology since 2017.
The Tea Tourism Infrastructure Development Scheme of the Government of
Assam, implemented by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC),
provides a 50% capital subsidy up to a ceiling of Rs. 2 crore to tea gardens for creating
tourism infrastructure. The Scheme also generates employment opportunities for local
youth through skill training and upgradation.
Further, the Ministry of Textiles is administering the National Handloom
Development Programme and the Raw Material Supply Scheme for the development of
handloom sector and welfare of handloom workers across the country including Assam.
Skill upgradation training is provided to handloom workers in technical areas i.e.
weaving, dyeing/printing and designing etc. through Weaver Service Centre under
SAMARTH Scheme of the Ministry of Textiles across the country including Assam.
*****ANNEXURE- I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 554 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 23RD JULY, 2025
REGARDING “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN
ASSAM”
(1) NORTH EAST INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION POLICY (NEIIPP), 2007
i. North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007 was a
revised version of the erstwhile North East Industrial Policy (NEIP), 1997, and
was notified for a period of 10 years from 1.4.2007 to 31.03.2017 with the
purpose to boost industrialization of the region.
ii. Since inception of NEIIPP, 2007 Rs. 3824.68 Crore has been disbursed to
industrial units as Subsidy for investment/Industrial promotion.
(2) NORTH EAST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (NEIDS), 2017:
To promote industrialization in NE States and to boost employment and income
generation, North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017 was notified on
12.04.2018 and came into force from 01.04.2017 for a period of five years (after closure
of NEIIPP, 2007 on 31.03.2017). The Scheme covers manufacturing and service sector.
It gave encouragement to MSME in both manufacturing and services sector.
Various benefits provided under the Scheme are as under:
1 Central Capital Investment Incentive for 30% of the investment in Plant&
access to credit (CCIIAC) machinery with an upper limit of
Rs. 5 Cr.
2 Central Interest Incentive (CII) 3% on working capital credit
advanced by Scheduled Banks
or Central/ State financial
institutions for first 5 years from
the date of commencement of
commercial production operation
.The incentive will be so
restricted as to ensure that
subsidized interest rate is not
below the Marginal Cost of
funds-based Lending Rates
(MCLR) of the lending institution.
3 Central Comprehensive Insurance Incentive Reimbursement of 100%
(CCII) insurance premium on insurance
of building and Plant &
Machinery for 5 years from the
date of commencement of
commercial production.4 Income Tax (IT) Reimbursement of Centre's
Reimbursement share of income tax for first 5
years including the year of
commencement of commercial
production.
5 Goods and Services Tax (GST) Reimbursement up to the extent
Reimbursement of Central Govt. Share of CGST
and IGST for 5 Years.
6 Employment Incentive (EI) Additional 3.67% of the
employer's contribution to
Employees' Provident Fund
(EPF) in addition to Government
bearing 8.33% Employee
Pension Scheme (EPS)
contribution of the employer in
the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar
Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY).
7 Transport Incentive (TI) 20% of the cost of
transportation including the
incentive currently provided
by Railways/ Railway PSU
for movement of finished
goods by rail from the
railway station nearest to
industrial unit to railway
station nearest to the
location of the buyer.
20% of cost of
transportation for finished
goods for movement
through Inland Waterways
Authority of India from the
port nearest to the location
of industrial unit to the port
nearest to the location of
the buyer.
33% of cost of
transportation of air freight
on perishable goods (as
defined by IATA) from the
airport nearest to place of
production to any airport
within the country, nearest
to the location of the buyer.
Overall Cap of Rs.200 Cr per unit for benefits under all components subject to
investment in Plant and Machinery.
As on 31.03.2022 (being the date of closure of registration), 1211 applications
were received on the portal for registration under NEIDS, 2017 Scheme. 974 industrial units (including conditional registrations) have been registered by
the Empowered Committee under the NEIDS, 2017.
Till FY 2025, 719 industrial units have already benefitted under the Scheme, out
of which 613 industrial units are in Assam alone.
(3) UTTAR POORVA TRANSFORMATIVE INDUSTRIALIZATION SCHEME
(UNNATI), 2024
Duration of the Scheme: Effective from the date of notification (09.03.2024)
for a period of 10 years plus 8 more years for meeting the committed
liabilities.
Budget: Total outlay - Rs. 10,037 crores.
Part A - Incentives (Rs. 9737 Cr) - to eligible new industrial units and those
undergoing substantial expansion.
Part B - implementation & institutional arrangements for the Scheme (Rs. 300
Cr).
As on date, 108 industrial units have been granted registration under the
Scheme.ANNEXURE- II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 554 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 23RD JULY, 2025
REGARDING “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN
ASSAM”
The following schemes are being implemented to boost the Agricultural development in
Assam. These schemes are as follows.
I. Central Sector Schemes
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan DhanYojana (PM-KMY)
3. Pradhan Mantri Annadata AaySanrakshanAbhiyan (PM-AASHA)
4. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)/ Restructured Weather Based Crop
Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
5. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
6. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
7. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
8. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
9. Agri Fund for Start Ups & Rural Enterprises (AgriSURE)
10. Namo Drone Didi
II. Centrally Sponsored Scheme
(a) National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
(b) Krishonnati Yojana
1. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing -National Agriculture Market (ISAM-
eNAM)
2. Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing-Others (ISAM-Others)
3. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
4. National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Seeds (NMEO-OS)
5. National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil palm (NMEO-OP)
6. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
7. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
(MOVCDNER)
8. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE)
9. Digital Agriculture(c) Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana (RKVY)
1. Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana- DPR (RKVY-DPR)
2. Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY)
3. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
4. Soil Health and Fertility
5. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
6. Agroforestry
7. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)(Crop Residue Management
(CRM) now merged with SMAM)
8. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)ANNEXURE-III
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 554 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 23RD JULY, 2025
REGARDING “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION IN
ASSAM”
Projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region to
boost industrial development, agriculture and tourism in Assam since the
creation of Ministry
S.No. Sector Projects sanctioned Sanctioned Cost
(in Cr.)
1 Agriculture 27 164.14
2 Industries 48 113.5
4 Tourism 17 659.44
Total 92 937.08